136 REMINISCENCES OF 



toll-gate at Windy Gates, and when he overtook us 

 was as drunk as an owl. I made him get off and left 

 him on the road. 



3rd March. Returned to Blair Adam till end of 

 season. 



5th March, 1850. Met at Blair Adam ; very 

 windy morning ; had a fox or two and lots of stags 

 and could do nothing. Went to the Hill of Beath ; 

 found directly ; got away close at him and ran into 

 the strips ; turned to the east and crossed the Great 

 North Road, then checked ; crossed the Beath Road 

 and hunted him on to Lochgelly ; turned to the 

 north and wended on it through a hollow wood ; 

 crossed the Orr Water and over some gorsy hills. 

 Here he had waited and we got a view ; went as 

 hard as we could split over the grass fields to Loch- 

 ore House and right over Benarty to Finity ; crossed 

 the Leven and ran down the north bank to the east ; 

 crossed again to south side about one hundred yards 

 from Scotland Wells Bridge ; crossed again to the 

 north opposite Balbedie and set his head for the hill. 

 When opposite Auchmoor he turned towards the 

 covert, but was headed by some men and turned 

 again towards the hill. Here we had a long check, 

 being obliged to go round by Auchmoor Bridge. 

 " Benefit " made a capital hit along the road, and we 

 got the line at the Knock of Arnot and hunted it 

 inch by inch up to a hollow wood at back of Strath- 

 endry. Here six couple got on a fresh fox and went 

 away up the Lomond. The body hung to the hunted 

 fox, ran into the round wood behind Strathendry and 



